Four-speed turntable driving mechanism for phonographs and manual control instrumentalities therefor



Aug. 15, 1961 A. K. TATEISHI 2,995,942

FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND MANUALCONTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR Filed 001;. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1i WEI-w] INVENTOI? ARTHUR K. TATHSHI ATTY.

15, 1961 A. K. TATEISHI 2,995,942

FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND MANUALCONTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR INvaNToR ARTHUR K. TATE\$HI ATTY.

Aug. 15, 1961 A. K. TATEISH! 2,995,942

FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PHQNOGRAPHS AND :MANUALCONTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR Filed Oct. 8, 1958 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5n l I l 169 H I00 I I L ma 54 I46 E 5a 2 I 3 I i 50' 1 13 5 I34 74 52 366 I fg 52 INVENTOR ARTHUR K.TATE|SH| ATTY.-

Aug. 15, 1961 A. K. TATEISHI 2,995,942

FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND MANUALCQNTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR Filed Oct. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 HII v M H I. N 535 Una- .M

HZHI 1 III-F 240 INVENTOR ARTHUR K. TATEJSHI A'r-rY.

Aug. 15, 1961 A. K. TATEISHI 2,995,942

FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PHQNOGRAPHS AND MANUALCONTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR Filed Oct. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INvENToQ ARTHUR KTA'rl-Jsm ATTY.

United States Patent 2,995,942 FOUR-SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISMFOR PHONOGRAPHS AND CONTROL INSTRUMENTALITIES THEREFOR Arthur K.Tateishi, Audio Tool & Engineering Limited, 32 River St., Toronto,Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 766,141 9 Claims. (Cl.74-190) The present invention relates generally to phonographs. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to that type of phonograph whichserves to reproduce sound from a disk type record and as its principalcomponents comprises a horizontally disposed base plate, a turntableover the base plate and with a depending annular flange, a pivotallymounted needle-carrying tone arm in associated relation with theturntable, a single speed electric motor beneath the base plate, acomparatively large, laterally movable, horizontally disposedspring-biased idler wheel adjacent to the depending annular flange onthe turntable, and a multi-speed driving mechanism between the armatureof the motor and the idler wheel whereby the turntable may beselectively driven at a low speed, one or more intermediate speeds, anda high speed, depending upon the character or design of the record to beplayed.

More specifically, the invention is concerned with phonograph turntabledriving mechanisms of the type wherein the driving connection betweenthe armature and the turntable is predicated upon the tractionalengagement of an idler wheel with either the armature shaft itself, orwith a stepped drive wheel rotatable with the armature shaft in aselective manner, while at the same time the idler wheel is maintainedin tractional engagement with a peripheral region of the turntable sothat the idler wheel, by virtue of its dual tractional engagement withboth the armature shaft or stepped drive wheel and the turntable, willtranslate the rotary movement of the armature into rotary movement ofthe turntable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of this typewhich is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over,previously designed phonographs and is characterized by the fact thatthe multi-speed driving mechanism between the armature of the singlespeed electric motor and the idler wheel is of new and improvedconstruction, embodies a simple and novel arrangement of parts, and hasextremely high efficiency.

One object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of theaforementioned type and in which there is an im proved manual controlarrangement foreffecting in a selective manner the various speed changesof which the multi-speed driving mechanism is capable of assuming.

The phonograph of the present invention is of the same general type asthat shown and described in my prior patent, No. 2,650,504, datedSeptember 1, 1953 and entitled Phonograph With Three Speed TurntableDriving Mechanism and embodies certain inherent improvements, in themain, relating to a novel composite drive wheel construction fortranslating the rotary motion of the armature of the electric motor tothe turntable, a novel means for disengaging the drive wheel from theturntable during actual speed change operations, and novel manualcontrol instrumentalities for eifecting such disengagement between thedrive wheel and turntable and for eflecting selectively the desired spedchange operations.

For approximately the past twelve years, disk type phonograph recordsappearing on the market have been designed for turntable speeds of 33%r.p.m., 45 r.p.m. or 78 r.p.m. and the phonograph shown and described in2,995,942 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 my above mentioned patent is predicatedupon such turntable speeds. In comparatively recent times, recordmanufacturers have placed upon the market a disk type record designedfor use with a turntable capable of being rotated at a speed of 16%r.p.m., thus producing a record of exceptionally long playingcharacteristics. The record player or phonograph of the presentinvention is designed to accommodate records which are designed forrotation at any of the four speeds mentioned above, and toward this end,it embodies a novel drive wheel assembly by means of which suchturntable speeds may be selectively attained.

In order to produce the relatively slow turntable speed of 16 /3 r.p.m.by ordinary means, i.e., utilizing a convention-a1 stepped drive wheelhaving drive wheel sections of varying diameters, an extremely widerange of diameters would have to be employed either for the steppedportions of the drive wheel or for the diameter of the idler wheel,rendering the latter unduly large. If the diameter of the drive wheelwere to be maintained within normal limits, the diameter of the armatureshaft or of the smallest step on the drive wheel would of necessity beextremely small so that inadequate traction would be attained betweenthe shaft or drive wheel and the idler wheel. According to the presentinvention, in order to attain the necessary speed reduction for aturntable drive of 16% r.p.m. a novel form of composite idler wheelassembly is employed having two traction treads of different diameters,one of the treads being selectively engageable with the armature shaftor stepped drive wheel carried thereby and the other tread beingengageable with the turntable, the difference in tread diameters beingsuch as to attain a speed reduction in the traction power trainextending between the rotary members, thus making possible the use ofrotary members of relatively small diameters in the interest of spaceconservation.

Still further, according to the present invention, the dual tread idlerwheel employed is designed for cooperation with the turntable in such amanner that only a portion thereof, i.e., only one of the tractiontreads associated therewith, is confined within the encompassing area ofthe depending turntable flange provided on the turntable, the othertread projecting radially outwardly beyond the cylindrical confines ofthe turntable flange in all positions of the idler wheel. By such anarrangement, the height of the turntable flange may be maintainedrelatively small so that the depth of the usual depressed well portionon the phonograph base plate may be maintained at a minimum, thusincreasing the available space within the phonograph housing beneath theturntable.

The present invention further embodies a novel drive wheel constructionand a novel actuating mechanism which cooperates with the drive wheelconstruction in such a manner as to serve the dual function of effectingthe necessary shifting movements of the drive wheel to attain thedesired turntable speed changes and of causing a temporary retraction ofthe idler wheel from tractional engagement with the turntable during thecourse of such speed changes. Finally, the invention still furtherembodies a novel manually operable control mechanism which cooperateswith the drive and idler wheel actuating mechanism through the medium ofa single combined torque and thrust rod to efiect the proper movementsof the actuating mechanism for any selected turntable speed. The torgueand thrust rod constitutes the sole connection between the manuallyoperable control mechanism and the drive and idler wheel actuatingmechanism, rotary motion of the rod effecting speed changes and axialshifting of the rod effecting idler wheel retraction. By such anarrangement, selective placement of the manual control mechanism on thephonograph base plate at various points remote from the turntable atconveniently accessible locations may be resorted to, thus accommodatinga wide variety of base plate or cabinet designs.

The provision of a phonograph possessing the advantageous featuresbriefly outlined above being among the principal objects of theinvention, another important object is the provision of a speed changemechanism and control instrumentalities therefor wherein many of theprincipal operative component parts thereof are formed of light sheetmetal stampings or are molded from a suitable plastic material such as apolyethylene derivative or the like, thus contributing toward economy ofmanufacture, and, additionally, in the case of certain of the movingparts which are formed of plastic material, reducing friction to aminimum, eliminating the necessity for frequent oiling of the parts, andproviding for long life of these moving parts.

Another object of the invention, in a phonograph of this type, is toprovide a control mechanism for efiectlated to effect a turntable speedchange. By such an ari rangement, the various operative parts of themechanism are not subjected to the high degree of initial countertorquewhich frequently accompanies efforts to shift the control levers ofconventional phonograph speed change mechanisms, and a more uniformshifting action than has heretofore been possible is attained.

The provision of a phonograph which is of relatively simple constructionso that it may readily be dismantled and reassembled for purposes ofinspection of parts, replacementthereof or repair, one which iscomprised of a number of moving parts and which, therefore, is unlikelyto get out of order; one which is rugged and durable and which willwithstand rough usage; one which is compact in its design; one which issmooth and silent in its operation; and one which otherwise is welladapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirablefeatures which have been borne in mind in the production and developmentof the present invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this timeenumerated, will become more readily apparent as the followingdescription ensues.

In the accompanying five sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a phonograph turntable assembly embodying theprinciples of the present invention, certain parts being broken away andother parts being shown in section to more clearly illustrate theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of mounting plate, electricmotor, idler wheel and four-speed driving mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2,illustrating the idler wheel in one of its operative positions whereinthe periphery thereof bridges the distance between the turntable flangeand the upper end of the armature shaft so that the turntable is drivenat the lowest rate of speed of which it is capable;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 3 showing the idlerwheel in its inoperative or retracted position as a preliminary toshifting of the drive wheel into one of the four positions of which itis capable of assuming;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 andshowing the manual control mechanism therefor operatively connectedthereto, the latter mechanism being shown in vertical section;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, similar to FIG. 5showing the idler wheel and drive wheel in peripheral engagement, eachwith the other, for effecting a second or low intermediate speed ofrotation of the turntable;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similarto FIG. 6 showing thedrivewheel and idler wheel inoperative engagement; each with the other, forefiecting a third or high intermediate speed of rotation of theturntable;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 7 showing the drivewheel and idler wheel in operative engagement, each with the other, foreffecting a fourth or high speed drive of the turntable;

FIG. 9 is a sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG.5;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1010 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a manual control assembly employed inconnection with the present invention and showing the same operativelyapplied to a crank shaft by means of which rotary motion is transmittedfrom the assembly to the speed change mechanism associated with theturntable; a

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 ofFIG. 9 showing the crank shaft in one of the normal positions of whichit. is capable of assuming while the turntable is being driven;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing the crank shaftin a position which it assumes upon initial movement thereof toward anintermediate position preparatory to efieoting a speed change;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 12 and 13 showing the crankshaft in an intermediate position slightly displaced from the positionof FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along the horizontalplane indicated by the line 15-15 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on thevertical plane indicated by the line 1717 of FIG.;2;

FIG. 18 is a sectional viewv taken substantially along the line 18-18 ofFIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the structure shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS The phonograph which is shown in FIG. 1, embodiesthe preferred form or embodiment of the novel fourspeed turntabledriving mechanism of the present invention. It is adapted to reproducesound from disk-type records and comprises a horizontally extending,substantially rectangular base plate 10, a turntable 12, a tone arm 14and, in addition, a unitary turntable drive assembly 16 (FIG. 2) which,as hereinafter pointed out in detail, serves to drive the turntableselectively at various speeds, depending upon the character or design ofthe record to be played. Present day commercial phonograph records arepredicated upon four basic or standard turntable speeds including a lowspeed of 16% r.p.m., an intermediate low speed of 33 /3 r.p.m., anintermediate high speed of 45 r.p.m.,, and a high speed of 78 rpm. Thesespeeds may vary slightly above and below the various standards selectedby manufacturers and the mechanism of the present invention forattaining various turntable speeds has been designed with these standardspeeds in mind, although it will be understood that the invention maywith but slight modification be employed for the attainment of otherlow, intermediate low, intermediate high and high turntable speeds.Irrespective, however, of the selected turntable speeds, the essentialfeatures of the invention are .at all times preserved.

7 The various parts of the phonograph with the exception of theturntable driving assembly, are conventional or standard. The base plate10 is in the form of a onepiece sheet metal stamping and has in itscentral portion a depressed shallow circular wall part 18 which is ofslightly greater diameter than that of the turntable 12. The cornerportions of the base plate 10 are provided with fixed depending legs 20for supporting the base plate in an elevated position on the housingstructure (not shown) for the phonograph. The turntable 12 is locatedfor the most part within the shallow well 18 of the base plate 10 andembodies on its central portion a depending hub (not shown) and on itsouter marginal portion a depending annular flange 22. The aforementionedhub on the central portion of the turntable surrounds the base of anupstanding spindle 24 and serves to support the turntable rotatably. Thedepending annular flange 22 extends at right angles to the turntable andprovides on its inner periphery a friction-type driving surface 26. Thespindle 24 is adapted to support a stack of records in an elevatedposition and in centered relation with respect to the turntable and hasassociated with it conventional ejector mechanism (not shown) forautomatically permitting the lowermost record of the stack to droptoward the turntable by gravity after the playing of a previouslydropped record on the turntable. The tone arm 14 of the phonograph isdisposed above the turntable and has one end thereof connected to theupper end of a pedestal 28 on one corner of the base plate 10 so that itis capable of swinging laterally relatively to the turntable. The distalend of the tone arm is provided with a needle (not shown) for engagingthe sound track of the record to be played as is conventional in theart.'

THE TURNTABLE DRIVE ASSEMBLY The unitary turntable drive assembly 16 islocated under the outer portion of the turntable 12 and comprises amounting plate 30, an electric motor 32, a laterally movable idler wheelassembly 34, a vertically slidable stepped drive wheel 36, fork andgroove type mechanism 38 for sliding the drive wheel vertically upwardsand downwards, and manually operable control mechanism 40 for actuatingthe fork and groove mechanism 38, including automatic means whereby, asa preliminary to sliding movement of the drive wheel, the idler wheelassembly is temporarily shifted out of its hereinafter describedoperative position.

The mounting plate 30 of the assembly 16 is in the form of a one-piecestamping and is substantially square. It is located beneath a cutout 42in the depressed part 18 of the phonograph base plate 10.

The electric motor and its mounting The motor '32 is of conventionalconstruction and is of the alternating current type having a laminatedstator structure 44 which is set upon posts 46 riveted as at 48 to themounting plate 30 in such a maner that the stator structure ismaintained spaced a small distance beneath the mounting plate. A seriesof suspension posts 50, of which there are preferably three in number(see FIGS. 3, 4 and are riveted as at 52 to the mounting plate 30project upwardly from the latter, and are formed adjacent their upperends with shoulder-forming ledge portions 54 which underlie rubbergrommets '56 seated within openings 58 provided in the well portion 18.The upper ends of the post 50 project upwardly through the openings 58and are suspended from the grommets 56 by means of half-moon retainers60 (FIG. 4). A field coil 62 best seen in FIG. 5 surrounds one leg ofthe stator 44 and a rotatable armature 64 (FIG. 5) is fixedly secured tothe lower portion of a vertically extending shaft 66. The lower end ofthe armture shaft is journalled in a bearing 68 supported in a bracket70 secured by screws 72 to the underneath side of the stator 44. Theupper portion of the armature shaft projects upwardly above the mountingplate 30 and is rotatably supported in a bearing 74 carried by themounting plate. The extreme upper end region of the armature shaft 66terminates a small distance inward of the depending annular flange 22 onthe turntable 12 of the phoograph for purposes that will be made clearpresently. The electric motor 32 is of the constant speed type andoperates when electric current is supplied to the field coil 62 toeffect rotation of the armature shaft 66.

The idler wheel assembly The idler wheel assembly 34 is in the form of arigid spool-like unit including a relatively large lower friction wheel76, a relatively small upper friction wheel 78 and a spacer member 80extending between the two wheels. As seen in FIG. 7, each wheel isprovided with a grooved periphery 82 within which there is seated aresilient rubber anti-friction band or traction tread 84. As will bepointed out in greater detail presently, the traction tread 84 on thesmaller upper wheel 78 is designed for tractional engagement with theinside cylindrical surface 26 of the turntable flange 22 while thetraction tread on the larger lower wheel '76 is designed for selectiveengagement with the extreme upper end regions of the armature shaft 66and the stepped periphery of the drive wheel 36.

The idler wheel assembly 34 is floatingly mounted on the depressed wellportion 18 of the base plate 10 for swinging movements universally inall directions in a horizontalplane immediately above the level of thewell portion. The overall vertical extent of the assembly 34 issoinewhat less than the height of the annular flange 22 on the turntable12 so that the assembly 34 may be positioned within the circumferentialconfines of the turntable flange and be interposed between the plane ofthe turntable and the plane of the well bottom. The idler wheel assembly34 is freely rotatable upon a vertical stud or shaft carried at theouter end of a floating arm 92, the inner end of the arm being pivotedas at 94 to the distal end of a supporting link 96. The proximate end ofthe link is pivoted on a fixed stud 98 which extends upwardly from thewell 18. The assembly 34 is thus capable of moving in a horizontal planein all directions within limits which are defined by the combinedlengths of the link 96 and arm 92.

THE THRUST BRACKET The cut-out or hole 42 (FIG. 1) is of irregularcontour and is formed with a pair of opposed, parallel, straight linearedge portions 100 and 102 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which, in effect, constituteguide rails for constraining the limited horizontal sliding movements ofa thrust bracket assembly 103 including a thrust bracket proper 104, thedetails of which best appear in FIG. 2. The bracket 104 is capable oflimited sliding movement in the transverse directions indicated by thearrows in this view.

The thrust bracket proper 104 is formed as a sheet metal stamping and itis generally of inverted G-shape cross section, including as it does avertical leg 106, a laterally turned lower flange 108, a laterallyturned upper flange 110, and a depending reentrant flange 112. Theopposite edges of the vertical leg 106 are notched as at 114 to receivethe opposed edges 100 and 102 of the cutout 42, the notches and edgesconstituting a sliding mounting for the bracket 104 as a whole. A coilspring 116 serves to maintain the bracket 104 in a retracted position.

Geometrical Speed Change Considerations Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and3, a coil spring 118 extends between the bracket 104 and arm 92 andnormally urges the arm in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIGS. 3 and 4. Due to the effective linear ex tents of the link 96 andfloating arm 92 and the relative locations of the pivot post 98 andarmature shaft 66, as well as the respective diameters of the largeidler wheel 76, the small idler wheel 78 and the turntable 12, thespring 116 exerts a pulling force on the pivot stud 90 having adirectional vectorial component of motion which draws the periphery ofthe large wheel 76 against the armature shaft 66 and simultaneouslydraws the periphery of the small wheel 78 against the turntable flange22 whereby the rotational movement of the armature shaft 66 istransmitted through the idler wheel assembly 34 to the turntable flange,and consequently to the turntable as awhole. Since the diameter of thearmature shaft 66 at the upper end thereof is appreciably less than thediameter of the large wheel 76, since the diameter of the small wheel 78is less than the diameter of the large wheel 76, and since the diameterof the small wheel 78 is appreciably less than the diameter of theturntable flange 22, a four-fold speed reduction based upon the linearextents of the relative circumferences of the parts 66, 76, 78 and 22 isattained.

1 Thrust Bracket and Idler Wheel Connections 'As best-seen in FIGS. 3and 4, the idler wheel assembly 34 is movable between an advancedoperative position wherein the same bridges the distance, so to speak,between the armature shaft 66 and the depending turntable flange 22 tointerconnect these two rotatable bodies in driving relationship, and aretracted inoperative position wherein the same is out of contact withthe depending flange 22 so that a driving connection between the tworotatable bodies nolonger exists. The advanced position of the assemblyis illustrated in FIG. 3 while the retracted position of the assembly isillustrated in FIG. 4. The movements of the assembly between its twoextreme positions take place under the control of the shifting movementsof the thrust bracket 104 which, as heretofore described, is shiftablelaterally within the hole or cut-out 42 in the well portion of the baseplate 10. Accordingly, arigid thrust rod 120 has one end thereof looselydisposed in a slot 122 provided in (see also FIG. 7) the upper flange110 of the thrust bracket 104 and has its other end looselyattached asat 124 to a medial region of the arm 92. Thus, it will be seen that whenthe thrust bracket 104 asumes its extreme right hand position as shownin FIG. 3, the idler wheel assembly 34 will be released by thethrust rod120 so that the spring 116 will become eifective to draw the assembly toits operative position wherein the small idler wheel frictionally andtractionally engages the inside friction surface of the turntable flange22 in driving relationship. When the thrust bracket 104 is moved towardits extreme left hand position as shown in FIG. 4, the thrust rod 120 isunder compression and causes the floating arm 92 to be moved in aclockwise direction so as to cause the large idler wheel 76 to ride out,so to speak, on the rotating periphery of the armature shaft 66 and moveaway from the depending turntable flange 22 so that the turntable driveis discontinued. As will be pointed out presently, this inoperativeposition of the idler wheel assembly 34 is merely a temporary positionwhich obtains during speed change operations.

THE DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY Referring now to FIGS 17, 18 and 19 wherein thedetails of the vertically shiftable composite drive wheel 36 are bestillustrated, this drive wheel is comprised of three parts including astepped traction hub or sleeve 130 and two disk-like dished ring members132 and 134 which define ,therebetween a groove 136 designed forcooperation with a shifting fork member 138 forming a part of thepreviously mentioned fork and groove mechanism 38. The hub 130 ispreferably formed of metal while the ring. members 132 and 134 arepreferably formed of a suitable plastic material having goodantifriction characteristics and capable of being molded to shape. Thering members 132 and 134, in effect constitute a composite shift collarfor the drive wheel. The hub 130 is formed with a central bore 140 whichis frictionally and slidably received over the armature shaft 66. The

upper end region of the shaft 66 is formed wi th a r ethe hub is formedwith an upper section 144 of relatively small diameter, an intermediatesection 146 of larger diameter, and a section 148 of still largerdiameter. The hub 130 is vertically shiftable on the armature shaft 66in such a manner that the three sections 144, 146 and 148 may be movedselectively into register with the groove afiorded by the reducedportion 142 of the armav ture shaft and consequently into horizontalregister with the periphery of the large idler wheel 76 of the idlerwheel assembly 34 so that the latter, under the influence of the spring116, will be drawn into tractional engagement with these various hubsections. The respective diameters of the sections 144, 146 and 148 aredesigned according to engineering expendiencies, so that the turntable12 will attain an intermediate low speed of 33 /3 r.p.m. when the largeidler wheel 76 is in tractional engagement with the section 144, so thatit will attain an intermediate high speed of 45 r.p.m. when the idlerWheel 76 is in tractional engagement with the section 146, and so thatit will attain its high speed of 78 r.p.m.: when the idler wheel 76 isin tractional engagement with the section 148. The diameter of thereduced portion 142 of the armature shaft 66 is such that when it is intr actional engagement with the large idler wheel 76, the turntable willrotate at its lowest rate of speed, namely 16 /3 r.p.m. Obviously,various turntable speeds other than those selected herein forillustrative purposes may be attained by varying the relative diametersof the various hub sections 144, 146 and 148 and the diameter of thereduced portion 142 of the armature shaft 66.

Still referring to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the vertical position or planeof the composite drive wheel assembly 36 is adapted to be maintainedagainst the gravitational forces acting upon it by means of a pair ofspring fingers 150 which are in the form of fiat leaf springs whichproject upwardly from diametrically opposed points on the periphery of acollar 152 which may be crimped on a serrated or otherwise roughenedportion 154 provided on the armature shaft immediately above themounting plate 30. The lower ends of the leaf springs are turnedlaterally as at 156 and are clamped to the underneath surface of thecollar 152 by offset clamping straps 157. The fingers 150 extend throughrespective slots 158 provided at diametrically spaced points in bothplastic ring members 132 and 134 and a resilient split ring 161interposed between these members and surrounding the hub bears outwardlyagainst the inner faces of the fingers and serves to normally spread thesame apart and into frictional engagement with the outside edges of theslots 15-8. The outside faces of the fingers 150 are serrated as at 159(FIG. 19) to enhance the frictional characteristics of these faces sothat the spreading force of the fingers will serve to maintain theplastic disks or rings 132 and 134 at any given level to which they maybe moved under the control of. the fork member 138.

THE SHIFTING FORK ASSEMBLY Referring now to FIGS. 2, and 5 to 8,inclusive, the the fork member 138 by means of which the position of thedrive wheel assembly 36 may be shifted vertically along the axis of thearmature shaft 66 is in the form of a generally C-shaped sheet metalstamping which is isome ic a lower laterally extending flange 164 and adownwardly offset fork proper 166 on the latter flange. A pair ofaligned holes are provided in the flanges "162 and 164, respectively,and a vertical post 169 has its end regions anchored in the flanges 108and 110 of the thrust bracket 104 and passes through these holes so thatthe fork member 138 is vertically slidable within the thrust bracket.The vertical leg 106 of the thrust bracket 104 is slotted as at 172 andthe side edges of the slot serve to confine the vertical leg 160 of thevertically shiftable fork member between the same so that turningmovement of the fork member on the post 169 is prevented.

It is to be noted that the fork member 138 is movable from an extremeelevated position such as has been illustrated in FIG. 8, through twointermediate positions such as have been shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to alowermost position such as has been illustrated in FIG. 5, and viceversa. The fork proper 166 is at all times in register with and extendsinto the groove which exists between the two plastic disks 132 and 134so that the drive wheel assembly 36 is constrained to follow thevertical shifting movements of the fork member 138.

In the lowermost position of FIG. 5, the sections 144, 146 and 148 ofthe hub 130 are all out of register with the groove defined by thereduced portion 142 of the armature shaft 66 so that the large idlerwheel 76 may engage the reduced portion 142 under the influence of thespring 116 as previously described. In this position of the drive wheelassembly 36, the turntable will be driven at its low speed of 16% r.p.m.

In the intermediate position of FIG. 6, the section 144 of the hub 130will be in register with the groove defined by the reduced portion 142of the armature shaft 66 so that the large idler wheel 76 may engage thecylindrical surface of the section 144 and cause the turntable to bedriven at its intermediate high speed of 33 /3 r.p.m.

In the intermediate position of FIG. 7, the section 146 of the hub 130will be in register with the groove defined by the reduced portion 142of the armature shaft 66 so that. the large idler wheel 76 may engagethe cylindrical surface of the section 146 and cause the turntable to bedriven at its intermediate high speed of 45 r.p.m.

In the upper position of FIG. 8, the section 148 of the hub 130 will bein register with the groove defined by the reduced portion 142 of thearmature shaft 66 so that the large idler wheel 76 may engage thecylindrical surface of the section 148 and cause the turntable to bedriven at its high speed of 78 r.p.m.

THE COMBINED TORQUE AND THRUST ROD Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 to 8,inclusive; l5 and 16, vertical shifting movements of the fork member 138is adapted to be effected under the direct control of a combined torqueand thrust rod 174 which extends between the fork member and thepreviously mentioned manually operable control instrumentalities 40 ofFIGS. 9 to 14, inclusive.

The combined torque and thrust rod 174 has its left hand end regionrotatably supported in a laterally turned car 180 while the right handend of the rod is supported in a pivoted cage member 182 (FIG. 5)forming an element of the mechanism 40 subsequently to be described. Therod is supported in a horizontal position a slight distance below thehorizontal plane of the bottom wall of the well 18 in the base plate 10.of the rod 174 is formed with a crankarm 183 carrying. a crank pin 184which projects through a slot 186 (FIGS. 2, 15 and 16) provided in thevertical leg 160 of the vertically shiftable fork member 138. The crankarm 183 is movable bodily with the thrust rod through an angle ofapproximately 45 between the lowered position thereof shown in FIG. 5wherein the crank pin 184, and consequently the fo'rk member 138 is inits lowermost position, and the elevated position shown in FIG. 8wherein the crank arm 183 projects through the cut-out or hole The lefthand endregionv i0 42 so that the crank pin 184 is disposed whollywithin the well 18. The crank arm 183 in moving from either extremeposition to the other extreme position swings throughout an angle ofapproximately 45.

THE MANUALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MECHANISM Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 14,inclusive, wherein the manually operable control mechanism 40 is bestil1ustrated, this control mechanism is in the form of a unitary assemblyof parts which is carried on the base plate 10 adjacent one cornerthereof as shown in FIG. 1.

The cradle The assembly 40 involves in its general organization acradlemember 200 (FIG. 11) which is preferably formed of molded plasticmaterial such as a polyethylene con densation product in the form of aninverted hollow generally frusto-pyramidal four-sided structure wherein:the large base of the pyramid is open and is bounded by ahorizontalmarginal flange 202, which seats squarely upon: the upper face of thebase plate. The inverted truncated pyramidal portion of the structureprojects downwardly through a rectangular slot or opening 304 (FIGS. 9and 10) provided in the base plate 10, thus providing a four-- sidedopen well or socket 206 having a vertical wall 208,. an opposed inclinedwall 210, sloping side walls 212 and. 214, and a generally flat bottomwall 216. The walls 208 and 210 and 216 are provided with semi-circularcut-away portions 218 in alignment with similar cut-away portions? 220provided in a series of angular web parts 222 at the bottom of thepyramidal structure exteriorly of the latter. The marginal flange 202 isformed with downwardly ex tending lugs 224 which extend through holes226 in the base plate 10. The holes and lugs serve to center the cradlemember 200 in position within the opening 204.

The various semi-circular cut-away portions 218 and 220 afiord curvedbearing surfaces which partially surround a cylindrical tubularextension or pivot shaft 225' which is integrally formed on thepreviously mentioned, cage member 182. The axis of the pivot shaft 225constitutes the axis of pivotal swinging movement of the cage member182. The shaft 225 (FIG. 10) extends horizontally and the upper regionthereof projects into the wall or socket 206 through an opening 230provided in the socket bottom wall 216 by virtue of the cut-awayportions 218. An actuating finger 232 is formed on the shaft 225 andextends radially outwardly therefrom and projects upwardly in the wellorsocket. The actuating finger 232' is capable of being swung bodily withthe cage member 182 throughout an angle of approximately 45 within thewell or socket 206 so that it selectively may assume four diiferentpositions of adjustment representing the four diiferent speed changes ofwhich the turntable 12 is capable, all in a manner that will be madeclear presently.

The cagemember The cage member 182, includingthe shaft portion 225 andactuating finger 232, is of integral construction, the same preferablybeing formed of a suitable moldable plastic material such aspolyethylene. The member 182 includes a cage proper (FIGS. 9 and 10),234 of rectangular box-like configuration including a top wall 236having a groove-238 formed therein, and a back wall 240. The right. handend of the combined torque and thrustrod 174, as viewed in FIG. 5-,projects into the cage proper. 234, extends along the groove 238, is.turned laterally as at 242 and extends along the back wall 240 to apoint adjacent the bottom of thecage, from whence it is again turnedlaterally to provide an offset extension 244 having an upturned end 246(see also FIGS. 3 and 4). A:- pair. of triangular webs 248 (FIGS. 9 and11) formed on .the back wall. 240stradd1e the downturned portion: 242 ofthe rod 174 and constrain the same to follow the swinging movements ofthe cageproper.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, the cylindrical pivot shaft portion225 of the cage member 182 is maintained in position within the varioussemi-circular cutaway recesses 218 and 220 by means of a verticallyextending plate 250 which is generally of V-shape contour as best seenin FIG. 10 and having laterally turned ears 252 which may be riveted,welded or otherwise secured to the underneath face of the base plate 10.The trough of the V-shapcd plate 250 is rounded as at 254 and has alaterally turned cradle flange 256 which underlies the cylindrical pivotshaft 225 and serves to support the same in position within the variouscut-away recesses 218 and 220.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 10, the vertically disposed plate 250is formed with a series of four spaced slots or openings 258 which havebeen additionally alphabetically designated at L, IL, 1H and H,respectively. These slots are radially disposed relative to thelongitudinal axis of the rod 174 and assume spaced positions in theplate 250 which are such that they may selectively register with theupturned end 246 (FIG. 10) of the rod 174 upon angular positioning ofthe laterally turned portion or crank arm provided on the latter. Theslot designated L is adapted to receive the upturned end 246 of the rod174 when low turntable speed is effective. The slot designated IL isdesigned to receive the end 246 when intermediate low turntable speed isefiective. The slot designated lI-I receives the end 246 to effectintermediate high turntable speed. The slot designated H receives theend 246 when high turntable speed is effective.

The spring retainer I Still referring to FIGS. 9 to 14, inclusive, thecage proper 234 is formed with a laterally extending ledge portion 260which serves as an anchoring platform for a unitary spring retainer 262having generally parallel extending spring fingers 264 and 266 whichproject forwardly beyond the back wall 240 and through the open cagestructure 234, as best seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. The fingers 264 and266 straddle the depending portion or crank arm 242 of the rod 174 and,forwardly of the crank arm 242, these fingers are turned inwardly as at268 so that they cross each other, and are turned outwardly as at 270 sothat they again cross each other in the distal regions of the fingers.The two fingers 264 and 266, together with the inturned portions 268,constitute in effect an extensible closed loop 272 which completelyencompasses the crank arm 242 and :restrains the longitudinal shiftingmovements of the combined torque and thrust rod 174 in a manner thatwill be made clear presently.

It is to be noted from an inspection of FIGS. 5 and 12 to 14, inclusive,that the spring fingers 264 and 266 exert opposed inwardly directedforces on the laterally turned crank arm 242 of the rod 174 when theupturned end 246 of the rod is in its home position within any one ofthe slots 258. This inwardly directed force on each side of the crankarm 242 serves to center the upturned end 246 in the various slotswithout offering any degree of longitudinal pull on the rod 174 as awhole. In other words, the inturned portions 268 of the spring fingers264 and 266 do not exert their camming action on the crank arm 242 whilethe end of the rod is seated within the holes and these latter portions268 become effective only after the upturned end of the rod has movedoutwardly 0n the bevelled edges of the slots 258. By such anarrangement, there are no initial frictional forces tending to'OPERATION As may be ascertained from inspection of FIGS. 3, 4, l0, and12 to 14, inclusive, manipulation of the actuating finger 232 to efllectswinging movement of the cage proper 234 will alsorcause swingingmovement; of the crank arm 242 so that the combined torque and thrustrod 174 will be turned bodily as a whole about its longitudinal axis,thus causing swinging movement of the crank arm 183 (FIG. 7) andeffecting speed change operations as previously described. Such swingingmovement of the crank arm 242 will be accompanied by lateral shifting ofthe rod 174 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that the thrustbracket 104 will be likewise shifted and the large idler wheel 78withdrawn from frictional engagement with the inside tread surface ofthe depending turntable flange 22 as previously set forth. Such shiftingmovement of the rod 174 takes place during each in-betweenposition ofthe crank arm 242 when the upturned end 246 of the rod 274 moves out ofone of the slots 258 and travels on the inside face of the dependingplate 250. The longitudinal shifting action of the rod 174 is clearlyillustrated in FIGS. l2, l3 and 14 wherein the cage proper 234 moves inthe direction indicated by the arrows in these views to cause the rodend 246 to be withdrawn from the slot L and deposited in the adjacentslot IL.

It is to be noted that walls of the various slots 258 are bevelled andthis fact, coupled with the fact that the contour of the upturned end246 of the rod 174 is cylindrical, elfects a camming action on the rodend 246 when torque is applied to the cage member tending to swing thecrank arm 242 in either direction. Additionally, a second camming actiontakes place between the bevelled edges of the triangular webs 248 andthe crank arm 242 tending to lift the rod end 246 from the slots. InFIG. 12 the rod end 246 is shown as being squarely seated within theslot H to eifect a high speed of rotation of the turntable 12. In FIG.13, the rod end 246 is shown at the commencement of a speed changewherein the same rides outwardly of one of the bevelled side edges ofthe slot L. At such time, the camming action on the rod 174 as a wholeis such as to impart a slight axial shifting movement to the rodwhereupon the crank arm 242, within the closed loop 272, moves againstthe inturned portion 268 of the spring finger 266 and deflects thelatter finger to the right as seen in this view. In this position of thefinger 266 and crank arm 242, a reverse thrust is exerted upon thethrust rod 174 as a whole tending to maintain the rod end 246 infrictional engagement with the bevelled surface of the edges of the slotL. V

As the lower end of the cage proper 234 continues to move toward theleft as viewed in FIG. 13, it rides outwardly on the bevelled edge ofthe slot and travels on the plane inside face of the depending plate 250whereupon the rod 174 is shifted axially to the left as viewed in FIGS.3 and 4 so that the thrust bracket, through the medium of the thrustlink (FIG. 4) is shifted to the left and the small wheel idler wheel 78is moved away from the depending turntable flange 22. This position ofthe idler wheel 78 is a temporary one and obtains as long as theupturned end 246 of the rod 174 remains in contact with the planar faceof the depending plate 250.

Upon continued movement of the cage proper toward the left as viewed inFIG. 14, the adjacent slot IL is encountered by the upturned end 246 ofthe rod 174 and this end of the rod drops in slot IL under the impellinginfluence of the camming action between the inturned portion 268 of thespring finger 266, whereupon the rod 174 as a whole is shifted to theright as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, thus carrying the thrust bracket 104to the right and releasing the free floating arm 92 so that the latter,under the influence of the spring 116, restores the small idler wheel 78to its operative position of frictional tractional engagement with theinside friction surface on the depending annular flange 22 of theturntable 12.

It is believed that the above description of the action of the springfinger 266 during swinging motion of the cage proper 234 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 9 will obviate the necessity of describingthe action 'of the genders spring finger 264 on the crank arm 242 whenthe latter swings bodily with the cage proper 234 in a counterclockwisedirection to effect removal of the rod end 246 from any one of the slots258 to the next adjacent slot for effecting a speed change of theturntable 12 for speed decreasing purposes. It is deemed suflicient tostate that the inwardly turned portion 268 of the spring finger 264 willat all times exert a camming action on the crank arm which biases thecombined torque and thrust rod 174 toward the depending plate 250.

The herein described phonograph is simple in its design and constructionand eflicient in operation and this is directly attributable to thedesign, arrangement and mode of operation of the particular four-speeddriving mechanism and the manual control instrumentalities therefor. Inview of the fact that the drive wheel assembly 36, the idler wheelassembly 34 and the manual control mechanism 40 are composite or unitarystructures capable of being preassembled and installed in the phonographconstruction bodily as independent units, and in View of the fact thatthe principal component parts of these various assemblies are either inthe form of sheet metal stampings or molded plastic bodies, thephonograph as a whole may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Only insofar as theinvention has particularly been pointed in the ac-v companying claims isthe same to be limited.

Having .thus described the invention what I cliam as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a hori zontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin,mechanism operative to drive the turntable at diiferent speeds andcomprising a base plate beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposedidler wheel rotatably mounted on said plate against verticaldisplacement and constrained to move horizontally into and out offrictional engagement with the flange on the turntable, spring meansnormally urging the idler wheel into engagement with the flange on theturntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedlyon said base plate and embodying a vertically extending armature shafthaving its upper end region terminating in horizontal register with andin the path of movement of the idler wheel and adapted when in directengagement with the idler wheel to eflect low speed drive of theturntable through the medium of the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheelhaving a stepped periphery providing vertically displaced cylindricalouter surfaces of different diameters respectively which are selectivelymovable,- upon vertical shifting of the drive wheel, into horizontalregister with said idler wheel, said cylindrical surfaces of differentdiameter being adapted, when separately in contact with said idlerwheel, to eifect notation of the turntable through the medium of theidler wheel at respective driving speeds higher than said low speeddrive, means providing a shift collar on said drive wheel concentricwith the axis of the latter, said shift collar having an inner hubportion and an outer periphery provided with a continuous groovetherearound, there being a pair of diametrically opposed holes in saidhub portion, a finger-supporting collar on said armature shaft belowsaid drive wheel, a pair of vertically extending linearly straightspring fingers having their lower ends secured to said collar andprojecting upwardly through said holes respectively, a split expansionring surrounding said armature shaft radially inwardly of said springfingers and bearing radially outwardly against the latter for spreadingthe same apart and into engagement with the respective opposed edges ofthe holes through which the fingers extend, a fork member mounted onsaid base plate for vertical shifting movement and projecting into thei4 groove provided by said shift collar, and manually ope!-- able meansfor shifting said fork member.

2. In a phonograph of the type that embodies 'a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at diflerent speeds andcomprising a base plate beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposedidler wheel rotatably mounted on said plate against verticaldisplacement and constrained to move horizontally into and out offrictional engagement with the flange on the turntable, spring meansnormally urging the idler wheel into engagement with the flange on theturntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedlyon said base plate and embodying a vertically extending armature shafthaving its upper end region terminating in horizontal register with andin the path of movement of the idler wheel and adapted when in directengagement with the idler wheel to effect low speed drive of theturntable through the medium of the idler wheel; a rigid drive wheelhaving a stepped periphery providing vertically displaced cylindricalouter surfaces of different diameters respectively which are selectivelymovable, upon vertical shifting of the drive Wheel, into horizontalregister with said idler wheel, said cylinder surfaces of differentdiameter being adapted, when separately in contact with said idlerwheel, to effect rotation of the turntable through the medium of theidler wheel at respective driving speeds higher than said low speeddrive, said drive wheel including a pair of vertically displaceddisklike parts of greater diameter than the diameter of the largestcylindrical surface of said stepped periphery, there being two pairs ofvertically aligned holes in said vertically" displaced disk-like partsat diametrically disposed regions thereon, a collar on said armatureshaft below said drivewheel, a pair of vertically extending linearlystraight spring fingers having their lower ends secured to said collarand projecting upwardly through said pairs of vertically aligned holesrespectively, said vertically displaced disk-like parts definingtherebetween an annular groove surrounding the drive wheel, a splitexpansion ring disposed within said groove radially inwardly of saidspring fingers and bearing radially outwardly against said fingers tobias the latter radially against the respective opposed edges of theholes through which the fingers extend, a fork member mounted on saidbase plate for vertical shifting movement and projecting into the groovedefined by said disk-like parts, and manually operable means forshifting said fork vertically.

3. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at difierent speeds andcomprising a base plate beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposedidler wheel rotatably mounted on said plate against verticaldisplacement and constrained to move horizontally into and out offrictional engagement with the flange on the turntable, spring meansnormally urging the idler wheel into engagement'with the flange on theturntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedlyon said base plate and embodying a vertically extending armature shafthaving its upper end region terminating in horizontal register with andin the path of movement of the idler Wheel and adapted when in directengagement with the idler wheel to eflect low speed drive of theturntable through the medium of the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheelhaving a stepped periphery providing vertically displaced cylindricalouter surfaces of diiferent diameters respectively which are selectivelymovable, upon vertical shifting of the drive wheel, into horizontalregister with said idler wheel, said cylindrical surfaces of differentdiameter being adapted, when separately in contact with said idlerwheel, to eflect rotation of the turntable through the medium oftheidler wheel at respective driving speeds higher than said low speeddrive, means on said drive wheel defining an annular groove concentricwith the axis of the drive wheel, a thrust bracket slidably mounted onsaid base plate for limited horizontal sliding movement in oppositedirections, a fork member mounted for independent vertical slidingmovement in said bracket, guide means constraining said fork member tomove bodily with the thrust bracket, said fork member including a forkproper extending into said annular groove and operable, upon verticalshifting of the fork member to effect vertical shifting of the drivewheel, a thrust rod extending between the thrust bracket and idler wheelfor translating the sliding movements of the former into displacementsof the latter bodily, said thrust bracket being movable between aretracted position wherein said idler wheel is in frictional engagementwith the turntable flange and an advanced position wherein said thrustrod maintains the idler wheel out of frictional engagement with theturntable flange, and manually operable means for simultaneouslyshifting said thrust bracket horizontally and shifting said fork membervertically.

4. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds as setforth in claim 8 wherein said manually operable means for simultaneouslyshifting the thrust bracket horizontally and shifting said fork membervertically includes a combined torque and thrust rod mounted on saidbase plate for turning movement about a horizontal axis and for axialshifting movement along said axis, an eccentric arm on said thrust roddisplaced from the axis of the latter, means establishing a connectionbetween said eccentric arm and fork member whereby upon turning movementof the rod said fork member will be shifted vertically and upon axialshifting movement of the rod said fork member will be displacedhorizontally and the horizontal displacements of the latter will betranslated to the thrust bracket through the medium of said guide means.

5. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds andcomprising a base plate beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposedidler wheel rotatably mounted on said plate against verticaldisplacement and constrained to move horizontally into and out offrictional engagement with the flange on the turntable, spring meansnormally urging the idler wheel into engagement with said flange, asingle speed electric motor mounted on said base plate and having avertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which is inhorizontal register with the idler wheel and adapted when in directengagement with the latter to effect low speed drive of the turntable, arigid drive wheel having a stepped periphery providing verticallydisplaced cylindrical outer surfaces of different diameters which areselectively movable, upon vertical shifting of the drive wheel, intohorizontal register with said idler wheel, means on the drive wheeldefining an annular groove, a thrust bracket horizontally slidable onsaid base plate, a fork member mounted for independent vertical slidingmovement in said thrust bracket, guide means constraining the forkmember to move bodily with the thrust bracket, said fork memberextending into said groove, a thrust rod connecting said thrust bracketand idler wheel for translating the sliding movements of the former intodisplacements of the latter bodily whereby shifting of the thrustbracket in one direction will cause withdrawal of the idler wheel fromengagement with the turntable flange, a combined torque and thrust rodmounted on said base plate for both turning and axial shifting movementsabout and along a horizontal axis, means establishing a connectionbetween one end of said combined torque and thrust rod and fork memberwhereby upon turning of the rod said fork member will be shiftedvertically and upon axial shifting of the rod in one direction the forkmember will be displaced horizontally with the horizontal.

to drive the turntable at different speeds as set forth in claim 10wherein said automatic means comprises in combination a fixed eccentriccrank arm on one end of the rod, a vertically disposed plate extendingtransversely of the rod and having a series of recesses formed therein,arranged in an arcuate row and designed for selective register with saidcrank arm when the rod is in selected operative positions, spring meansnormally urging said rod axially toward a retracted position wherein anend of the crank arm may enter a recess in said plate, and cooperatingcam means on said crank arm and at the edge regions of said recesseswhereby, upon initial turning movement of the rod as a preliminary tomovement of the crank arm laterally of a recess toward the next adjacentrecess, the crank arm, and consequently the thrust rod, will be shiftedaxially againstthe action of said spring means.

7. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds as setforth in claim 11 wherein said spring means comprises a cage membermounted for swinging movements bodily with said crank arm, a pair ofspring fingers mounted on said cage member and straddling said crank armon opposite sides thereof respectively, said spring fingers being formedwith inwardly extending outer end regions which converge toward eachother and which are normally out of contact with the crank arm when thelatter is in its re-v tracted position, said crank arm, upon axialshifting movement of the rod incident to lateral shifting movement ofthe crank arm away from one recess moving into fric-' tional engagementwith the inwardly extending outer end region of at least one of saidspring fingers and being yieldingly restrained thereby.

8. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a hori-r zontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds andcomprising a base plate beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposedidler wheel rotatably mounted on said'plate against verticaldisplacement and constrained to move horizontally into and out offrictional engagement with the flange of the turntable, spring meansnormally urging the idler wheel into engagement with the flange of theturntable, a single wheel coaxial with and mounted for vertical slidingmovement on said armature shaft, said drive wheel having a steppedperiphery providing vertically displaced cylindrical outer surfaces ofdifferent diameters respectively which are selectively movable, uponvertical shifting of the drive wheel, into horizontal register with saididler wheel, said cylindrical surfaces of different diameters beingadapted, when separately in contact with said idler wheel, to effectrotation of the turntable through the medium of the idler wheel atrespective driving speeds higher than said low speed drive, said drivewheel inluding a disk-like part of greater diameter than the di-;

ameter of the largest cylindrical surface of the stepped periphery ofthe drive wheel, there being a pair of diametrically opposed holes insaid disk-like part, a collar mounted on said armature shaft below saiddrive wheel, a pair of vertically extending spring fingers having theirlower ends secured to said collar and projecting upwardly through saidholes respectively, and a split expansion ring surrounding the armatureshaft inwardly of said spring fingers and normally bearing radiallyoutwardly against the fingers to bias the latter against-the respectiveopposed edges of said holes.

9. In a phonograph of the type that comprises a horizontally disposedrecord-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin;mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds as setforth in claim 1 wherein the sides of said spring fingers which areremote from each other are roughened to enhance the frictionalcharacteristics of said fingers whereby said drive wheel Will bemaintained against the gravitational forces acting upon it in aninfinite number of positions of vertical adjustment to which it may heslid on the armature shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,650,504 Tateishi Sept. 1, 1953 2,859,632 Morrison Nov. 11, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS 714,813 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1954

